LEGISLATIVE ETHICS CMTE & PROCEEDINGS
Sponsored By: Alyse Galvin (Not)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 5 mixed.
Protection for legislative workers reporting wrongdoing
Legislators and legislative employees cannot punish, harass, or discriminate against someone for making a qualifying report to a government entity. The reporter must reasonably believe the conduct breaks the Legislative Ethics Act or another state law. Legislative employees punished for such reports can complain to the ethics committee and bring a separate civil lawsuit. They can seek damages, back wages, reinstatement, or other relief. The law takes effect immediately.
Ethics investigators gain tools and referrals
The ethics committee can require witnesses to appear, administer oaths, and take testimony in matters before it. The chair must approve subpoenas for books or papers related to an investigation. Evidence of probable criminal activity must be sent to the proper law enforcement agency. Evidence of probable campaign-finance violations by someone covered by the ethics law must go to the Alaska Public Offices Commission. Each referral must be limited to the suspected violation; it does not itself prove wrongdoing.
Legislators can use their official titles
Alaska legislators can use “Senator” or “Representative” without breaking the rule against using government resources for nonlegislative purposes. This permission does not cover taking or withholding action in exchange for a private benefit for themselves or someone else.
Legislative gift recipients must provide proof
Legislators and legislative employees must provide added records for gifts accepted under the exception for learning about legislative matters. For gifts worth $250 or more, they must submit an agenda or other proof within 60 days of receipt. The records must show that the gift was mainly for getting information about a legislative matter.
Ethics cases get deadlines and penalties
For a probable violation needing only correction, the committee can publicly recommend a fix within 20 days. The subject can request a private meeting within 20 days after receiving the recommendation. Failure to fix the issue within 10 days after that meeting can lead to formal charges or referral. Denied formal charges require a hearing more than 20 and fewer than 90 days after service, with limited grounds for delay. Complainant-caused delay can lead to dismissal barring the same case from being filed again, after the required majority vote and finding. Findings require clear and convincing evidence. After a hearing, or an admitted charge without a hearing, the committee must issue a decision and recommend appropriate sanctions for violations or failure to cooperate.
Ethics committee membership and expense rules
Public members of Alaska’s legislative ethics committee serve without salary but receive a daily allowance and authorized travel reimbursement. Their daily allowance equals the amount the legislative council sets for legislators. No more than one public member can be a former legislator. No more than two public members can belong to the same political party. Alternate public members do not count toward these limits.
Representation and evidence access in complaints
People named in ethics complaints can choose a lawyer or another representative at any point. The committee cannot reject their choice, and choosing representation does not give up confidentiality. The committee can adopt rules allowing evidence requests as soon as a complaint is filed. It can limit those requests to protect people who are not under investigation. Limits on sharing information require the complainant to accept similar limits and keep the complaint and related information private.
Campaigns pause ethics cases against candidates
For legislators and legislative employees running for state office, campaign protections start on the later of two dates: 45 days before the relevant primary or candidate filing day. The period ends at withdrawal, general or special election day, or public certification of primary results for candidates who do not advance, whichever comes first. New complaints trigger notice and paused committee authority unless the candidate waives the pause within 11 days after notice. Complainants can refile afterward. Pending cases without formal charges stay confidential, with dismissal, corrective recommendations, and charges paused. Public hearings on existing charges and decisions from completed hearings also wait until afterward. Subjects can request exceptions, and evidence gathering can continue.
Ethics privacy rules limit public access
Complaints and investigation records generally stay private during investigation; dismissal orders and specified records after a probable-cause finding are public. Subjects can waive privacy for specified materials, but witness-identifying details must be removed unless the witness consents. A complainant who breaks confidentiality rules faces immediate dismissal; the committee or someone else can file using the same facts. For complaints filed by others, deliberations and votes exclude the parties and outsiders unless legislative rules require otherwise. The committee reports who attended and whether a motion was decided by a majority, but keeps vote counts and individual votes private.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Alyse Galvin
Not • House
Cosponsors
Matt Claman
Democratic • Senate
Cathy Giessel
Republican • Senate
Scott Kawasaki
Democratic • Senate
Kevin McCabe
Republican • House
Bert Stedman
Republican • Senate
Gary Stevens
Republican • Senate
Loki Tobin
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Bill Text
Enrolled HB 298
5/17/2026
SCS HB 298(JUD)
5/11/2026
HB 298
2/9/2026